Independence Day Celebrations in Middle Tennessee 2018

Whether you’re looking for an old-fashioned, small-town celebration, or a heart-pounding, star-studded event in Nashville, we’ve got you covered this year! Please note that some of these celebrations are scheduled as early as June 30 – don’t miss out…

Come on out to the annual Freedom Fest in Hendersonville which includes a great fireworks show. Live music, food, Kids Zone, vendors and more! Come join us for an evening of fun to kick off an Independence Day celebration. Free to attend, $5 for Kids Zone – $15 family max.

The Gallatin July 4th Celebration Day Event will be held on beginning at 2pm! There will be local crafters and vendors selling a variety of products to shop. Food, fireworks at dusk, and much more! The popular Foam Mountain will be in action, so wear your swimsuit to play in the foam! An obstacle course will also be there to challenge all who dare and live music is part of the festivities, too! Free to attend, $2 parking.

The Freedom Celebration is an event dedicated to bringing our community together to celebrate our great Nation. The Freedom Celebration will be an event for all ages, safe for children and families to attend. Enjoy great food, inflatables, and fireworks plus live music by Hawk Nelson and Josh Wilson. Free.

The Music City Hot Chicken Festival presented by Piedmont Natural Gas promises to spice up East Nashville and Hot Chicken fans from around the world. The event will be held Wednesday, July 4 in East Nashville’s East Park. The festival will open with the Hot Chicken Festival parade beginning at 10:30am at 8th and Woodland heading west toward East Park. Leading the parade will be former Nashville mayor and festival founder Bill Purcell followed by floats, antique fire trucks, mascots, community groups and, of course, Yazoo Brew. Following the parade the festival opens with free hot chicken samples provided by numerous Nashville hot chicken establishments. Past hot chicken vendors include Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish, 400 Degrees, Party Fowl, Chicken Shack Express, Pepperfire and Party Fowl. The festival will continue until 3pm bringing activities and entertainment for hot chicken aficionados and first-timers. Live music from local bands keeps the “Nashville” vibe going all day long.

Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th presented by Dr Pepper is a free, family-friendly event that showcases the GRAMMY-winning Nashville Symphony and the largest fireworks show in the country. GRAMMY-winning super group Lady Antebellum will headline Nashville’s July 4 celebration (#NashvilleJuly4) in downtown Music City. Newly inducted Grand Ole Opry member Chris Janson, whose hits include “Buy Me a Boat” and “Fix a Drink,” along with pop artist Lucie Silvas and R&B producer, musician and artist Shannon Sanders, are part of the lineup. The main concert stage will be at 5th and Broadway, a Family Fun Zone will at be Music City Walk of Fame Park, and the Nashville Symphony will perform at Ascend Amphitheater during the fireworks. Get the free Nashville July 4th app in the App Store or Google Play to have the most up-to-date information about the event.

After the concerts at 5th and Broadway, the show will shift to Cumberland Riverfront with a fireworks show synchronized to a live performance by the Nashville Symphony who will play from Ascend Amphitheater.

The Independence Day celebration will kick off with the Wyler’s Light® Family Fun Zone, which includes inflatables and other kid-friendly activities, from noon to 5 p.m. at Music City Walk of Fame Park.

The City of Brentwood invites you to attend the 30th Annual Independence Day Celebration at the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater in Crockett Park from 5pm to 10 pm on Wednesday July 4, 2018. This year the celebration is being called, “Red, White, and Boom in Brentwood” and features Paul Ross and the “The Kadillacs.” They will begin playing Big Band, disco, and jazz music at 7pm. Admission is free thanks to our sponsors Gresham Smith and Partners, Hiller Plumbing Heating Cooling and Electrical, HG Hill Realty Company, Brentwood Academy and Mix 92.9. Nearly 10,000 people attend this event each year. Since parking is limited, residents are encouraged to park at the Brentwood Library or River Park and use the bike paths. Residents who live in nearby subdivisions are encouraged to walk or ride bikes to the park. Cars will not be allowed into Crockett Park after 8:30pm. Fireworks will begin at 9pm. If there is lightning, strong winds or continuous rain between 7– 9pm, the fireworks will be canceled or postponed. Lightning is the only reason the concert would be cancelled.

This year’s 4th of July Celebration will focus on family fun and include great music, quality crafts, tasty food, antique cars, and a large Kids Zone. The free festival kicks off at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4th, with bluegrass music playing from the stage. Food and craft booths will fill the downtown square. Food vendors include everything from roasted corn on the cob to BBQ, ice cream to nachos; and corn dogs to smoothies. Craft vendors will fill the area with wood working, jewelry and other handmade items.

Antique cars will line Main Street between the square and 4th Avenue. The kid’s zone on 3rd Avenue North will have inflatables, a petting zoo, and pony rides. The always fun Children’s Parade begins lining up at 4:45 and starts at 5 p.m. Registration for the parade is free and goes on all day at the Lions Club booth, which also will be selling water.

Live entertainment, including many popular groups, continues throughout the day with a variety of music genres including Bluegrass, Country, Soul, and Pop. The final group of the day will be preceded by the Old Glory Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution reading the Declaration of Independence, and the singing of the “National Anthem”.

*Franklin on the Fourth ends at 8 p.m. to give attendees time to get to the Fireworks Display at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. The display, put on by the City of Franklin and its sponsors, will begin at approximately 9 p.m.

Join the Town of Nolensville in celebrating our independence at the Star Spangled Celebration Saturday June 30, 2018. Nolensville ball fields on Nolensville Park Road. Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. with fireworks beginning at dusk. Enjoy live music, food trucks and inflatables. In the event of rain, the event will be postponed until the next night, Sunday July 1.

On Tuesday, July 3rd, music, food & fun activities will be at the Lee Victory Recreation Park for the annual Smyrna Independence Day Celebration. Beginning at 5pm at the Rec Park, which is located at 110 Sam Ridley Parkway, kids can play on the inflatable playgrounds or take a train ride provided by C&R Railroad. Bring a picnic lunch or buy from any of the on-site concessions and enjoy live music featuring 2nd & Vine. Then get ready for one of Smyrna’s highlights of the year, the annual Fireworks show.

Bring your family and friends, your lawn chairs or blankets, and join us for this community annual event. There will be games and activities for the kids, live bands, fireworks, and refreshments for purchase. Do NOT bring: pets, grills, alcohol, or fireworks (including sparklers).

Last month, there was a frantic search to find a site for the annual display because the launch area behind Academy Sports would no longer be available due to the construction of At Home, a home goods store, at the launch site. Display organizer Tom Needham found an alternate site; however, Mt. Juliet City Manager Kenneth Martin said the launch site will return to Academy Sports for at least one more year as construction of At Home has been delayed.

One of the most popular and unique events is the Watertown Stars, Stripes and Squirt Guns Parade presented by the Watertown Chamber of Commerce. For those who are not familiar with the event, it is small-town America at its finest. Residents line up on Main Street and around the public square, ready to super-soak each other – and even Watertown Mayor Mike Jennings. The event will begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4. According to the Watertown Chamber of Commerce, there will be a no-squirt zone for paradegoers who do not wish to get wet.

City of Lebanon’s 4th of July Celebration – Wednesday, July 4 – 5p-10pm – Wilson County Fairgrounds, Lebanon, TN

Festivities will start at 5pm. There will be FREE Hot Dogs & Watermelon from 5 to 6pm, Food Trucks, Live Entertainment, and National Guard Displays. FREE Handheld Flags & Coupons donated by Lebanon’s Baskin Robbins. The Lebanon Police Department SWAT Team, Lebanon Fire Department, and National Guard will have Show’n’Tell Equipment. Performances by Fred VanHook and The Harmoneers, Evermean Evergreen Cloggers, and Michael Neal. Fireworks will begin at 9pm.
I hope y’all have a wonderful, safe holiday! God Bless America!

Sounds Like Fun - Nashville is a labor of love - my love for Music City, Middle Tennessee, and experiencing the best that our area has to offer.
In recent years, I've developed an informal following among my friends and professional colleagues. People ask me what I've got planned for an upcoming weekend – or seek advice about good activities for showing visiting friends or relatives around the Nashville/Middle Tennessee area. Even though there are other sites with event calendars, I think followers of my blog can expect some extra insight into goings-on that would suit ‘most anyone seeking to experience the diversity of fun and interesting things to do around town.
I'm always on the look-out for good places to walk my dog. Maggie is a 10-year-old mixed breed shelter dog who still becomes comically ecstatic when she sees me pick up a leash. She's my inspiration to start a page featuring great dog walks around Nashville.